Tubular supporting base



July 24, 1951 F. l.. DUR

TUBULAR SUPPORTING BASE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1949 July 24, 1951 F. L. DUR 2,562,022

A TUBULAR SUPPORTING BASE Filed March 24, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. L. DUER TUBULAR SUPPORTING BASE July 24, l1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 24, 1949 Patented July 24, 1951 'rU-BULAR SUPPORTING BASE Frederick L. Duer, Bellwood, Ill.

Application March 24, 1949, serial No. 83,125

3k Claims. Cl. 311-109) such interengaged relationship, can be conveniently and positively interconnected whereby to assure a rm, solid and highly dependablesupf port.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting base in which the leg inter'eng'aging and interconnecting means therefor are individual to the legs of a base assembly, and whereby the number of legs of an assembly maybe'varied appearance.

An equally important object of the invention is to provide a supporting base of the multiple vleg assembly type, capable of compact and economical packaging when in knocked-down form, and

et" without in any manner detracting from its so-" lidity, security of interconnection, or estheticv moreover, of being equally and readily assembled into set-up or operative form by, substantially unskilled labor.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood 'by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, I have in the accompanying drawings and in the following detailed description based thereupon,"set out several embodiments of my invention.l

In certain forms of supporting basesv or legs, itis required that the same shall comprise single and independent devices or assemblies, as

distinguished from bases 'or legs which consist ofpaired assemblies fiXedly interconnected in spaced relation, and in some instances,` inter- 1 braced, by means of elongated tie and/or bracing bars, rods, tubes, etc., disposed longitudinally therebetween. This is particularlyv true where supporting bases or legs are directly fastened'to the transversely divided top or top frame of an extension table in which, when thetop is extendv ed or made longer, the bases or legs must be capable of movement away from each other, and with return of the extensible top to non-extended position, movement toward each other. 'I o this end, my invention omprehends a novel, sim*- 4interdependent and relatively immovable.

ple land extremely strong unitary base, wherein a plurality of grouped and supportingly interrelated preformed legs are substantially clampingly interconnected in such a manner as to become Such a base can, alone, be advantageously and practically employed to support a table top and/or frame, as in that type of article characterized as a pedestal table, or a pair or more of the bases, each independent of the other, can be used to support a table top frame or table top, particularly, an extension top table.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved supporting base advantageous for use in pedestal types of tables, i. e., where a table top and/or frame is supported by a single base.

Figure 2 isan enlarged fragmentary detail, partly in vertical section, through the intermediate, interenga'ged and interconnected portions of the tubular legs of the base, taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 4, looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken onth line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, partly in` vertical section, showing the arrangement and connection of the short tubular members which function to interconnect the juxtapositioned intermediate portions of thesupporting base legs.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a slightly modied form of the improved supporting base, in which a pair of 'grouped and interconnected leg constituted bases support a table top and frame; each thereof including three instead of four legs, as shown in the preceding views.

vFigure 6 is an end elevation of the form of invention shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, partly in vertical section, through the interengenerally, consists of vertical and relatively juxltaposed bentv tubular metal legs, 'constituting a which can be finished in any desired and known manner.

in their respective constructions, shapes and sizes, being curved or bowed throughoutg their` lengths, as well shown in Figure 1 oithecdraw``r ings.

They are arranged in opposed pairs; theV` legs of which pairs are, respectively, designated by# the numerals 3 and il. The upper ends of each of said legs, as above inferred, are flattened, as at,5 and 5", arranged in a common horizontal.. plane,

and formed to. receivey bolts t therethrough, the 1 latter engaging' in or through appropriateportions of the frame of the table top 2 The lower ends of each ofthe legsV 3 and al' are formed b'yclosing and/or iiatteningk the tubular bodies1 to.

constitute feet i" and l".

The'relatively facing inn'er'side portionsof. the.

opposedJ and spaced legsv @i have horizontally aligned openings or seats formed in the respective outer sides of the in.n termediate portions of said legs.

Openings S", simi1ar"to the openings SIintlle legs 4', are formed in therelatively facing.' or inner sides ofthe intermediate' portions of the pair of legs 3, and as clearlyshown in the drawings,v these latter openingsY are arranged'in' a horizontal'plane corresponding to that of the openings' 3'; Also; the outer sides of said" intermediateportions.of"

the legs 3 havey smaller and co-axially disposed; openings 9 formed therein, the' purpose of which.`

will be hereinafter more fully .describe'dl It' will benoted that the openings iii-8" andv 3 9 are equi-spaced in their respective legs Il and 3; also, that those portions of the outer sides of the intermediate portions of the legs. 4 are preferably flattened, as indicated at I5);

Relatively vertically.` spaced horizontal'. tubular.

members II and Il' are horizontally. positionedl between the inwardly bowed and relatively op.- posed intermediate portions of. the legs A.. Said membershave their opposite sidesnestingly en?v gaged in the horizontally,v aligned seats. 84 insthe..

inner sides of the intermediate. portions-of. thev legs 4, and'in consequenceserve to retain said. legs in opposed and spaced relationVintheInanner shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The lengths of each of thetubular. membersv I I. and I I are somewhat greaterthanthe horizontal cross-sectional sizes ot each. ofY the. intermediate portions of' the legs. 4f and. extend...therebeyond`.

The cross-sectional` sizes-of the tubular members correspond and, as above inferred, are entirely suiiicient to retain and/or maintain. the. inwardly. bowed intermediate portions of tlie1legs14 inthe aforesaid spaced relation.

Connecting means in. theform of bolts I2v and` I2 are transversely engaged. throughthe'intermediateportions-ofv the legs via the `seats. @and openings atherein, andthe.intermediateportions.. oflsaid bolts also transversely engage through. appropriate portions of the particularly adjacent tubular members l Ia-ndI I. Nuts or. other secure.

'lihey are i preierably, z, but not neces--4 sarily, madeof. metal tubing, thesurfaces of` Moreover, these legs are complementa-lf.

formedA therein. Smaller and co-axially disposed openings. 9' are.

ing means I3 are engaged with the screwthreaded extremities of each of the bolts I2 and I2 and have bearing or binding engagement with the adjacent flattened portions I on the outer sides of each of the legs 4. Thus, it will be seen that the relatively opposed legs 4 will be securely interconnected; moreover, that when interconnected, their respective intermediate portions, receiving the tubular members II and II, will be lo maintained; in ,relative spacedl relation.. Consequently, amueh more electual clamping interconnection between said legs 4 and tubular members II and II' will be effected when the bolts I2 and I2 are engaged therethrough and conl"5-' nectedithereto, as above described.

Thezsecondpair of leg 3, as above described, have openings 8' formed in the facing or inner sides of 'itheir'inwardly bowed intermediate portionss. These openings 3 are of a size to permit snug reception of the extended opposite ends of the tubular-.members Ii and I I. therethrough and intothelgs, as-showninEi'gur-.es 3. and 4.of.the..

accompanying drawings. With the relatively opposedlegs .3 engagingthe adjacent andLopposite 25. ends of Vthetubnlarmembers II andjI I', the inner.. sides. of .the .intermediate portions of each of v said. legs have direct bearing engagement uponorcontact with adjacentinner side portions ofv the legs 4J (see. Eigure 3) .and.so, are. materially, steadied..

through. Such vcontact.

Plates or anchors I4, eachv having. screwthreaded co-axially disposed openings. theref through,I are xedly arranged within the` open. oppositeend. portionsoi the short .tubulanmemf- 3,5Ybers II'and II; They are preferably xedly cont nected..to. adjacentportions of their. respective tubularmembers, asby welding or other suitable.

means.

Connecting, screws. I5 are engaged; inwardly,V

4D.- throughthe openings 9 in. the. outer sidesoithe:

Vbowed intermediate. portions. of.. the legs 3.and.

are r threadedly, engaged-with.. the screw-threaded:

openings therein until the heads of suchscrews arenrmlyfengagedor seated inthe moreA or less iffcounter-sunk.portions. of. saidopenings. S, asA

shown, inFigure 3. In` this manner, the bowed,

intermediate. portions. of the legs- 3, .and hence,

said legs, aresecurely andxedly connected to.r thefopposite, ends of. the horizontal tubularzmem.I

for. a tabletop such as indicated. by:` the. numeral f 2.resisting` tipping or toppling thereof ,evenunder,- heavy loads or. stresses.

Whereas,.I have; in the precedingdescription,

described thefuseof asingle'base I for supporting.

a table-ftopland/or frame 2, it will, et course, bei

clearlyfunderstood. andappreciatedthat apair or.. i more of such bases I maylbeemployedto support substantially any desiredV form of. tablel top, Whether, that` top be of the extension. or non.-A 70.v extension type.r` And where the type of. supporting. base such asheren generally indicated., by the numeral I is employed in multiplesfor supporting. an extensiontoptype of table, it willbe seenthat.. inasmuch. as saidbasesare entirely free from .one I. another. or.u nconnected,v relative. adjustmentbef Certain-types of tables, for various reasons,H such as shape, size, design, etc., are not well. adaptable to the form of multi-legged table base A assembly shownin the hereinbefore described construction, illustrated byfl'igures l to 4 of the, rTherefore, to satis-l factorily serve the stated shortcomings, `my imr proved base may be constructed according to the accompanying drawings.

modiiied construction shown in the drawing Figures to 9, inclusive. This modified form of the.-

invention employs three instead of four grouped and interconnected legs to constitute a supporting base. That is, a pair of opposed and relatively spaced legs ,4' and a single leg l,3' generally make the base. The legs 3 and 4 are constructed inv the same form and manner as are the legs 3 and 1I. The legs 4', -with the tubular members Ila (substantiallycorresponding to the tubular members gj I.I'-I I') therebetween, interengagecl with and interconnected to the same through bolts I2-I2, likewise correspond. v

'I'he vthus described leg assemblies or supporting bases, as will be well appreciated, are usable in pairs` and are arranged in relatively opposed and spaced relation with respect to a table ntop and frame A2", which may be of an extendable type orv nonextendable type. The upper ends 5 and 5,' of such legs are connected through bolts 6 to the table top frame or to other appropriate portions of said top. The intermediately and relatively right angularly arranged legs 3' face outwardly from the spaced bases, as shown in Figure 5, being engaged with the adjacent and outwardly extended end portions of the tubular members lla and securely connected thereto through screws I5. y

The tubular members lla, preferably, are somewhat shorter than are the aforesaid tubular members I I-I I. In consequence, the inner ends of the former, opening outwardly and laterally of the adjacent sides of the legs 4', permit of their closing by the engagement of suitable and preferably ornamental caps I5 thereover. Each of said caps is equipped with curved and inwardly disposed spring legs I'I so spaced as to have snug spring bearing engagement in the said open ends of the tubular members l la.

Supporting bases constructed in accordance with the above described modified form of my invention are completely free of one another. Therefore, relative movement between the same, i. e., movement away from or toward each other can be eiected, and this is particularly desirable when such bases are employed to support a table top of longitudinally extendable character.

By and through the usage of the two tubular interengaging and interconnected members I| II' and Ila, a rm, positive and durable interconnection between the legs of a supporting base assembly groupis afforded, entirely capable of withstanding such stresses as may orshall be imparted thereto when connected to and supporting a table top. Furthermore, assembly of the legs constituting the herein described and illustrated forms of supporting bases can be easily and readily effected without the use of special tools or similar equipment, of equal importance, by substantially unskilled labor.

The detachable assembly of the supporting base legs permits them to be readily disconnected, and because of their individual shapes and haben sizes, they,r plus the accessories or members ernployedl to interconnect the same, can beeconomically packaged for shipping.

H Should the lower ends of the basellegs` 3--37 and 4-IIv be not in true horizontal alignment,

i. e.their lower faces arranged in the same horizontal plane, the base will unevenly engage v its supporting surface, and so, wobble. Correction 'ofsuch lconditio-n can be readily effected merely by, loosening the screws l5, fulcrumingthei legs 3,-3'..on their respective points of bearing contact with the legs 4 4', as hereinbefore described, `llhereby to bring the feet of said legsinto rhorizontal alignment between themselves, Thereupon, the.`

and the feet of the legs 4 6. screws. I5 are tightened, to secure the feet of the legsA 3,-3in'such adjusted horizontally aligned relationship and a rm non-wobblingsupport is accorded the base.

Iclaim: y1. A supporting base, comprising a pair oi'v tubular, legs, corresponding intermediate portions of which are arranged in opposed spaced relation,

the inner sides of the intermediate portions of said legs having complemental and relatively longitudinally equi-spaced seats therein,. the

seats in one of said intermediate portions being horizontally aligned withA the seats in the' opposite intermediate portion, relatively vertically vspaced horizontal tubularv members between the intermediate portions of thev legs having their."

` cross-sectional sizes of each of said leg intermediate vportions and extended beyond the sides thereof, connecting means engaged through said leg intermediate portions and the inner side seats therein and adjacent portions of said tubular members, a second pair of relatively opposed tubular legs substantially complemental to the rst mentioned tubular legs juxtapositioned. between and in substantially right angular relation thereto, the intermediate portions of the last mentioned legs having longitudinally equi-spaced openings in the inner sides of their intermediate portions snugly receiving the opposite extended ends of the tubular members therein, and means engaged through each of said last mentioned legs connecting the same to said tubular members.

2. A supporting base, comprising a pair of tubular legs, corresponding intermediate portions of which are disposed toward each other and arranged in opposed and spaced relation, the inner sides ofthe vintermediate portions of said legs having complemental and relatively longitudinally equi-spaced seats therein, the seats in one of said intermediate portions being horizontally aligned with the seats in the opposite intermediate portion, relatively vertically spaced horizontal tubular members between the intermediate portions of the legs having their opposite sides nestingly engaged in the horizontally aligned seats in said intermediate portions and retaining said portions in said opposed and spaced relation, the lengths of each of said tubular members being greater than the horizontal cross-sectional sizes of each of said leg intermediate po-rtions and extended beyond the sides thereof, connecting means engaged through said intermediate portions and the inner side seats therein and adjacent portions of said tubular larlegs-substantially complemental to theI flrst mentioned tubular legs juxtapositioned between the same in substantially right angular'v relation thereto, the intermediate portions of the last mentioned legs having longitudinally equispaced openings in the inner sides of'theirintermediate portions snugly receiving the opposite extended ends of the tubular members therein and ther inner sides of the intermediate portions of each of said last mentioned legs having direct bearing engagement with and on adjacent portions of the intermediate portions o-f'said first mentioned legs, and' means engaged through each of said last mentioned legs connecting the same tol said tubular members.

3. A supporting base, comprising a pairV of tubular legs, corresponding intermediate portionsv of which are arranged in opposed and spacedA relation, the inner sides of the intermediate portions of said legs having complemental and'relatively longitudinally equi-spaced seats therein, the seats in one of said intermediate portions being horizontally aligned with the seats in the oppositeintermediate portion, relatively vertically spaced horizontal tubular members between the intermediate portions of the legs having* their opposite sides nestingly engaged in the horizontallyA aligned seats in said intermediate portions and retaining said portions in said opposed and' spaced relation, the lengths of each of said tubular members beingslightly'greater than the horizontal cross-sectional sizes of each of saidl leg were intermediate portions and extended beyond the sides-thereof, connecting meansengaged through said leg intermediate portions and the` innerv side seatsA therein and adjacentportions of5 said tubular members, another tubular leg `substantially complemental to the rst mentionedV tubular legs juxtapositioned between and substantially right angular relation thereto, the intermediate portion of the last'mentioned leg having longitudinally spaced openings inthe inner side of its intermediate portion snugly receiving' cer tain of the extended ends of the tubular members therein, and means engaged through said' last'- mentioned legconnecting the same to saidtubularmembers,

FREDERICK L. DUER.

REFERENCES' CITED The following references are of record inthe le of thisv patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date-v` `353,137 Hinkel Nov. 23, 1886 770,406 Walcott Sept. 20, 1904` 1,162,147 Dunlap Nov. 30, 1915' 1,162,148 Dunlap Nov: 30, 1915 1,187,972 Cook June 20; 1916 1,380,042 Cook- May 31, 1921V 1,951,499 Brown Mar. 20, 19321l 1,997,660 Smith Apr. 16, 1935' 2,172,611 Gerhardt et al. Sept; 121,A 1939l` 

